Killer back behind bars after causing car-race death

Ashley Lovekin had never had a driving lesson in his life (Picture: Caters)

A convicted killer who caused the death of a mother of two while driving in a race has been jailed again.

Ashley Lovekin had never had a driving lesson in his life, did not hold a licence and was behind the wheel of someone else’s car when it crashed, killing Nicky Robinson, a court heard.

The 24-year-old, who had previously been locked up for the manslaughter of his mother’s partner, lost control of the Peugeot 206 convertible, sending it spinning across a road into a lamppost.

Nicky Robinson was killed instantly (Picture: Caters)

Ms Robinson, who had met Lovekin in a bar hours earlier, died instantly – while another passenger, Daniel Richards, broke an arm and leg in the collision.

Sentencing Lovekin to five years eight months in jail, Judge John Warner said: ‘This is not the first time you have killed someone by an unlawful act. You were racing that car and represent a significant risk of causing serious harm to members of the public.’

Lovekin was also banned from driving for eight years after admitting causing the death of Ms Robinson, 34, by dangerous driving.

He had been racing an Audi A5 in Wolverhampton in August when the crash happened, the city’s crown court heard.

Stephen Cadwaladr, defending Lovekin, said: ‘He is devastated by the consequences of his actions and will carry the responsibility of what he has done to the grave.’